Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 367, Tension in the Rising Action

12 April 2015, Writing Ideas - New Novel, part 367, Tension in the Rising Action

Announcement: Delay, my new novels can be seen on the internet, but the publisher has delayed all their fiction output due to the economy.  I'll keep you informed.  More information can be found at www.ancientlight.com.  Check out my novels--I think you'll really enjoy them.

Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

The four plus one basic rules I employ when writing:

1. Don't confuse your readers.
2. Entertain your readers.
3. Ground your readers in the writing.
4. Don't show (or tell) everything.
5. Immerse yourself in the world of your writing.

All novels have five discrete parts:
1.  The initial scene (the beginning)
2.  The rising action
3.  The climax
4.  The falling action
5.  The dénouement

The theme statement of my 25th novel, working title, Escape, is this: a girl in a fascist island nation will do anything to escape--a young cargo shuttle pilot not following the rules crashes on the island.

Here is the cover proposal for Lilly: Enchantment and the Computer.  Lilly is my 24th novel.

Cover Proposal

The most important scene in any novel is the initial scene, but eventually, you have to move to the rising action.  I'm writing about the transition from the initial scene to the rising action of my newest novel, "Escape."  Escape is the working title.  I'll decide on the actual proposed title when I finish the novel.  I'm at the nineteenth chapter right now.  That means I've written about 380 pages.  I've just started on the next major run-through..

Let's review my guidelines for conversation.

1.  Cultural norms (greeting, introduction, small talk, big talk)
2.  Logical response (characters must respond to each other in the conversation)
3.  ID the speaker
4.  Show us the picture of the conversation
5.  Use contractions (most of the time)
6.  What are you trying to say?
7.  What is unsaid in the conversation?
8.  Build the tone of the conversation.
9.  Show don't tell.
10.  Keep proper names to a minimum.

I'm an advocate of using the/a scene input/output method to drive the rising action--in fact, to write any novel. 

Short digression:  I'm writing from Bangkok on another around the world tour. 

The rising action is all about the development of tension.  The way to accomplish this is through scene development using tension and release.  Every scene should develop tension and release.  The author builds tension through the scene that is released in the scene.  The author can also build tension through or with other scenes that is released later in the rising action.  Ultimately, the author uses the building tension to eventually release it at the climax of the novel. 

Each scene must have a tension and a release.  The entire design of the scene must build tension to a release.  For example, the first scene in Escape.  Reb is going home dreaming of escaping the nation of Freedom.  Scott is illegally overflying the nation of Freedom.  The tension builds as she watches Scott's shuttle, and he has an engine failure.  The tension builds while she runs for cover and he makes an emergency landing.  A each step, the tension builds because, he barely makes the cape and the shuttle almost runs Reb down.  They meet and the tension increases through their conversation.  Reb assumes Scott has come to save her.  Scott isn't sure what to think.  The release comes when Reb convinces Scott to come with her and not wait for the Armed Citizens to capture him.  

Within the context of this first scene, the concept of escape is brought up over and over--this is the tension build for the climax, however, at each point in the scene, the tension builds and builds until the release as Scott decides to go with Reb.

Each scene must build tension and release. 

More tomorrow.

For more information, you can visit my author site http://www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites:

http://www.ancientlight.com/
http://www.aegyptnovel.com/
http://www.centurionnovel.com
http://www.thesecondmission.com/
http://www.theendofhonor.com/
http://www.thefoxshonor.com
http://www.aseasonofhonor.com  

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